Intrauterine growth restriction alters nutrient metabolism in the intestine of porcine offspring

Abstract

Background Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) has negative impacts on the postnatal survival, growth and development of humans and animals, with not only on newborns but also adulthood. However, the characteristics for nutrient digestion and absorption in IUGR offspring are still largely unknown. Therefore, the normal birth weight (NBW) and IUGR growing pigs were used in this study to investigate their differences in nutrient utilization, with an expectition for further nutritional optimization of the IUGR offspring during their later life. Methods Twelve IUGR and 12 NBW growing pigs were fitted with catheters in their portal vein to measure blood flow rate as well as nutrients and metabolites in plasma. The digestibilities of nutrients in different intestinal segments, and bacterial fermentation in the large intestine were examined to reveal the characteristics of nutrients utilization in IUGR versus NBW pigs. Results The rate of portal venous blood flow did not differ beween IUGR and NBW pigs. Plasma concentrations of total cholesterol, triglycerides and glucose were much lower but those of urea were higher in the portal vein of IUGR pigs, compared with the NBW pigs. The ileal digestibility of dry matter, gross energy and starch were lower in IUGR pigs than in NBW pigs. IUGR increased hindgut microbial diversity and bacterial fermentation activity in the caecum. In vitro cross-fermentation of ileal digesta by caecal microbes of NBW and IUGR pigs showed that gas production was much higher for IUGR ileal digesta regardless of the source of caecal inocula. Conclusion IUGR impairs the nutrient digestion and absorption in small intestine, reduces caecal microbial diversity and promotes bacterial fermentation in the large intestine during the growing phase. These findings aid in our understanding of nutrient metabolism in IUGR pigs and provide the basis for future nutritional interventions.

Effects of oral glutamine supplementation on jejunal morphology, development, and amino acid profiles in male low birth weight suckling piglets

“…The SI of LBW piglets is developmentally and functionally compromised compared to NBW individuals [ 63 , 64 ]. Oral Gln supplementation has been previously shown to be beneficial for the jejunal development and function of piglets around weaning [ 34 , 35 ], however only few studies examined effects of Gln supplementation in piglets during the suckling phase [ 33 , 38 , 65 ].…”

Dietary dimethylglycine sodium salt supplementation alleviates redox status imbalance and intestinal dysfunction in weaned piglets with intrauterine growth restriction

“…Intrauterine growth restricted (IUGR) newborns are defined as small-sized individuals with weights below the 10th-centile for their gestational age or the population mean minus 2 standard deviations of a population-based nomogram, and their occurrence is an important problem in animal husbandry ( Dong et al., 2014 ; Li et al., 2021 ). This growth restriction exerts a permanent stunting effect on the efficiency of nutrient utilization in posterity and impairs their long-term health ( Xu et al., 2016 ; Zhang et al., 2019 ).…”

Body weight of newborn and suckling piglets affects their intestinal gene expression

“…Moreover, the downregulation of the nutrient transport gene ( SLC39A4 ) of Zn, considered as the major intracellular Zn transporter ( Martin et al, 2013 ), may be involved in the changes observed in other physiological genes that need Zn for their proper expression ( Suttle, 2010 ). Considering that the small intestine plays an essential role not only in diet digestion and nutrient absorption but also in immune response, this reduced gene expression observed in piglets of light birthweight may seriously compromise immunity functionality, as previously noted ( Michiels et al, 2013 ; Qi et al, 2019 ; Li et al, 2021 ). Indeed, a decreased development of gastrointestinal tract (e.g., length, weight, and secretory capacity), even after 18 to 28 d post-weaning, has been observed in piglets with light birthweight compared to their average birth weight littermates (912 g vs. 1,287 g BW; Michiels et al, 2013 ).…”